Easel



L.' T. SAFER Jan. 8, 1952 EASEL 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug. 21, ;950 A INVENTOR. $014215]? Safer, B

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Jan. 8, 1952 L. -T. SAFER EASEL 2 SHEETS-Sl-IEET 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1950 YNVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 8, 1 952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- g 2,582,070 EAsEL Louis r. Saar, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 21, 1950', SerialNo. 180,527

My invention relates to improvements in easels and more particularly is of that class which is adapted for use by artists, students and others for painting, sketching and other purposes. An object is the production of a device of its kind which can be easily folded or set up in readiness for use. Another object is to provide means for immovably holding a drawing board or other work surface firmly interlocked on the easel when in use. Among still further objects is to provide means for sustaining the drawing board or other work surface at any selected height upon the easel so as to accommodate the user, whereby the device can be used by school children, students,

artists and others.

To these ends my invention comprises the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved easel when set up in readiness for use; Fig. 2 is a top plan of a, detail portion of the improved easel; Fig. 3 is a section of a detail taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a back elevation of a detail portion of the easel when the work board C is removed; Fig. 5 isa sectional elevation taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a, plan when looking down on the upper end portion of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

My improved easel resembles a skeleton stand having a pair of front and back inverted U shaped frames A and B. The front section has a pair of upwardly extending parallel legs Ill-40, and an integral horizontal upper end portion II. The back section has a pair of upwardly extending parallel legs l2-l2 and an integral horizontal upper end portion [3. These frames are preferably formed out of suitable light weight tubing. A cross brace I 4 is secured between the lower end portions of each pair of legs. The upper end portions H and I3 resemble a pair of parallel horizontal cross arms which are foldably fastened by the opposite pair of hinge members I 5l5. Each hinge member is composed of a pair of hinge leaves I6-l6 which are separately secured together by the readily removable hand operable pintle 11. By this means the frames can be spread with their lower ends apart to form a stability stand, and their upper end portions can be uncoupled or connected.

The front section A is provided with a horizontal service supply tray l8 which is removably keyed at l9 horizontally on the back side of the horizontal supporting plate 20. The plate 20 2 Claims. (Cl. 451-129) 2 is secured by its ends to a pair of transverseand parallel. tubular runners 2 I.-2l which slide longitudinally on the pair of parallel legs l0lll. The plate 20 may be composed of wood or other suitable material and its opposite ends may be joined to thatubular runners by metal cleats 22, said cleats in turn being secured to the plate by pins 23. Each of the cleats is shaped around the companion tubular slide 2| (Fig. 6), and rigidly secured thereto by brazing or other suitable means. In this mannerthe front section of'the easel is assisted in being cross braced to produce a rigid structure. The slides are held in longitudinally selected position on the side arms Ill-l 0 by a longitudinal series of spaced pin receiving holes 24 (Fig. 4) in the back of each of the side arms Iii-40, and lock pins 25 (Fig. 5), which are insertable thereinto through the slides at selected elevation on the stand.

The work board or plate C is supported by its lower edge resting upon a pair of forwardly extending steps 26-46. Each of these steps is formed on the upper end of a spring arm 21. Each of the pair of spring arms is secured by brazing or other suitable means at its lower end on the back of the companion metal cleat 22. Each of the arms is provided with one of the lock pins 25. The upper end portion of each spring arm is offset and extended forwardly into a position as shown in Fig. 4 so as to receive and retain the lower edge of the work board or plate C when the pins 25 are fastened in the corresponding holes 24. In this manner the plate is locked with the tray at selected elevation on the easel. When the work board is engaged by its lower edge on the steps 26 the spring clips 28 on the legs |0|0' (Fig. 3) may be made to engage and hold the upper portion of the board C on the easel. The

spring arms 21 and their lock pins 25 provide interlocking means by which the supporting plate 20 is immovably held when the work board or surface C is mounted on the easel at selected elevation.

In addition the supporting plate 20 and cooperating tubular runners simultaneously buttress and brace the leg members l0-and assist in producing a rigid frame structure. Also by separating the parts the easel can be thoroughly washed and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

To change and adjust the height at which a work board is supported on the easel, the clips 28 are first released. The spring arms 21 are next depressed whereby the lock pins 25 are disengaged. The service tray supporting member can then be adjusted in height and refastened. The hinge couplings I 5l5 permit the front and back sections of the easel being separated so as to facilitate carrying. In use the back section may also be employed to support an additional work board so that the easel may accommodate two users.

Modifications of the structure shown and described is contemplated within the scope of the followingclaimslj f f I 1. An easel having front and back supporting frames foldably secured together at their upper end portions and said front section having up wardly extended side arms, a horizontal service tray support slidably connected at selectable elevation on said side arms, apairof upwardly extended spring arms secured by their lower end portions to the horizontal end portions of said I pins engaged with portions of said service tray support at selected elevation on said front supporting frame.

2'. An easel: for holding a work board, having front and back supporting frames secured together at their upperend portions and said front 4 section having upwardly extended side arms, a horizontal service tray support having tubular supporting members telescoped over and adjustable longitudinally on the side arms of said front frame, a pair of upwardly extended spring arms on the opposite end portions of said service tray support and having forwardly projecting steps on their upper portions with which the lower edge of said work board is adapted to engage, said side arms having longitudinal series of pin engaging openings and said spring arms having interlocking pins adapted to releasablyengage said front side arms through said openings and simultaneously hold the service tray support at selected elevation on said front section when H said steps are held engaged with said tray support by said engagement of the lower edge of said work board.

a LOUIS T. SAFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 310,481 Vail Jan. 6, 1885 360,737 Simsrott Apr. 5, 1887 635,542 Hayne Oct. 24, 1899 2,064,232 Tepper Dec. 15, 1936 2,485,517 Vaule et a1. Oct. 18, 1949 

